Cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity in human symptomatic atherosclerosis

Acid cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) activity was assayed in mononuclear cells of patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis (transient ischemic attacks, TIA) and in age-matched controls showing no evidence of atherosclerosis. The acid CEH level of TIA patients was significantly lower than that of controls (1074 +/- 128 vs 2113 +/- 255 pmol/mg P/hr, mean +/- SE). Neither mononuclear cell nor plasma cholesterol and cholesteryl ester concentrations differed significantly between atherosclerotic and control groups. TIA women had lower mononuclear cell concentrations of free cholesterol than men.